Written Answers Thursday 18 January 2007

Scottish Executive

Access for Disabled People

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there is disabled access at all railway stations.

Tavish Scott: This is a reserved matter.

  However, through the Access for All Programme we are providing up to £12 million over the next three years, for Network Rail to improve access at stations. I have also recently announced £9.4 million for station improvements including help point induction loops and customer information systems which will improve services for all including the disabled.

Communities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to Glasgow City Council regarding the administration of the Chirnsyde Community Initiative.

Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Scottish Executive has made no representations to Glasgow City Council regarding the administration of the Chirnsyde Community Initiative.

Communities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to investigate allegations of malpractice in the administration of local authority community groups.

Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Scottish Executive provides various funds to local authorities and their community planning partners for investment in community groups, for example through the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF). Terms and conditions of CRF grant include provision to withhold grant from the local authority if any allegations of malpractice in these groups come to light. In these circumstances it would be for the local authority as the accountable body to investigate the allegations.

Communities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what knowledge it has of any allegations made about the Chirnsyde Community Initiative over the last five years.

Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  As a board member of the former Glasgow North Social Inclusion Partnership and now the local community planning partnership, Communities Scotland has been kept regularly informed of progress with any investigations carried out by partner organisations into the Chirnsyde Initiative over the past five years.

Communities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with representatives of Glasgow City Council and other organisations involved in the Chirnsyde Community Initiative.

Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Scottish Executive has held no meetings with Glasgow City Council or relevant partner organisations on the Chirnsyde Community Initiative. Communities Scotland, as board members of the local community planning partnership will be kept informed of developments at the Initiative.

Communities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent closure of Chirnsyde Community Initiative, what action it will take in conjunction with appropriate bodies to ensure that replacement facilities for this area are provided as soon as possible.

Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Scottish Executive understands that the Executive Committee of Glasgow City Council agreed to explore alternative arrangements for the delivery of community services by the Chirnsyde Initiative at its meeting on 8 December 2006.

  As members of the board of the local community planning partnership, Communities Scotland will seek to be part of any dialogue aimed at ensuring that services valued by the community can continue to be delivered.

Communities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to investigate the situation surrounding the closure of the Chirnsyde Community Initiative given that Glasgow City Council closed the centre in December 2006 without any official explanation.

Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The decision to close the Chirnsyde Community Initiative was a matter for Glasgow City Council. As members of the board of the local community planning partnership, Communities Scotland will seek to be part of any dialogue aimed at ensuring that services valued by the community can continue to be delivered.

Dairy Industry

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the available quota in the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence area has been in litres in each year since 1999 and, of this, how much has been unused by producers.

Ross Finnie: Information on milk quota utilisation is collected by the Rural Payments Agency. Details of the net quota held and unused quota by producers in the Southern Isles ring fence area since 2003-04 is set out in the following table. Figures are not available for previous years as milk purchasers were not required to supply the RPA with this information.

  

Quota Year
Net Quota Heldby Producers 
(Million Litres)
Net Unused Quota
(Million Litres)


 2003-04
 53,750,581
 2,169,168


 2004-05
 60,020,230
 8,121,076


 2005-06
 54,308,949
 1,295,359

Drug Misuse

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive considers it an appropriate time to rethink drugs policy.

Mr Jack McConnell: Given the scale of the challenge, and the nature of the problem, it is essential to keep drugs policy under review. Despite increased success in seizing drugs, and improvements in rehabilitation, we are currently considering further improvements which could be implemented.

Elections

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the General Register Office for Scotland will publish the number of Scottish Parliament electors on the Electoral Register at 1 December 2006, listed by Scottish parliamentary (a) constituency and (b) region, also showing the number of relevant electors broken down by (i) UK parliamentary constituency and (ii) local government area.

George Lyon: Statistics on the number of UK Parliament electors by UK parliamentary constituency and local government electors by local government area will be published on 22 February 2007. The General Register Office for Scotland are currently collating information on the number of Scottish Parliament electors by Scottish parliamentary constituency and region for publication in the near future but a publication date has not yet been set.

Enterprise

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to assist Scottish business to increase revenue earnings as a result of the 2007 enlargement of the European Union.

Allan Wilson: One of the functions of Scottish Development International (SDI), the trade and investment arm of the Scottish Executive, is to help Scottish companies do more business overseas, and to promote Scotland as a good place to live, work and do business. SDI helps Scottish companies exploit the best market opportunities wherever they might be geographically.

  SDI is only just starting to get enquiries from Scottish companies about opportunities in Bulgaria and Romania. SDI’s Düsseldorf office, which covers the central Europe region including the two newest member states, works closely with the global network of British embassies and consulates to provide a full range of services to companies interested in expanding in these markets.

  The Euro Info Centre, which operates as part of the Business Gateway within the Scottish Enterprise area, started increasing awareness of the 2007 enlargement during 2006 and is continuing to promote opportunities for Scottish companies in Bulgaria and Romania.

Firearms

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote awareness of the dangers of the misuse of airguns.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive launched an air weapon publicity campaign on 23 March 2005, including a leaflet explaining the dangers of air weapons in the wrong hands and encouraging people to hand them in to the police if they were no longer required. This will be updated to take into account the further measures to strengthen the law on air weapons within the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, which will come into effect later this year.

Health

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a position on the practice of individual drug companies choosing to sell their products through one wholesaler.

Lewis Macdonald: Issues of competition policy are for the Office of Fair Trading, who I understand are currently considering complaints in relation to one such case.

  For our part, we are committed to working in co-operation with all manufacturers and suppliers of pharmaceuticals to ensure that patients get the medicines they need. We expect patients to continue to receive the current high level of service and prompt delivery of medicines, at no extra cost to the NHS, wherever they live in Scotland.

Health

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging public transport use among hospital visitors and staff in the Lothians.

Tavish Scott: We expect each individual hospital, local authority and Regional Transport Partnership to work in partnership to encourage public transport access to hospitals.

  To improve access to hospitals, the Scottish Executive Health Department policy places a mandatory requirement on NHS health boards to promote more sustainable travel choices through the implementation of green travel plans.

  In addition, the Executive has provided £1 million to the Regional Transport Partnerships to assist local authorities and health boards deliver green travel plans, and through the Energy Saving Trust is providing advice to organisations to develop and implement travel plans.

Homelessness

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the number of homeless people, broken down by status.

Rhona Brankin: The latest figures on homelessness are published in the statistical bulletin Operation of the Homeless Persons legislation in Scotland: National and Local Authority Analysis 2005-06. This gives a full breakdown of the characteristics of applicant households and assessments made (tables 11 and 12), and is available on-line in the publications section of the housing statistics branch reference site:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/PubHomeless.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses have been categorised as "affordable" in the East Kilbride constituency in each year since 1999 and what the projected figure is for each of the next five years.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The information requested is not held centrally.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new homes were (a) started and (b) completed in each year since May 1999, broken down into (i) private sector, (ii) public sector and (iii) housing association.

Rhona Brankin: The number of new dwellings started and completed since 1996 is published in the Housing trends in Scotland: quarter ending 30 June 2006 bulletin (tables 6 and 7). This is available on-line in the publications section of the housing statistics branch reference site:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/PubHousingTrend.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the number of people or families on local authority housing waiting lists.

Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30466 on 19 December 2006. Information on waiting lists is collected on an annual basis and there have been no updates since the most recent information for 2005-06 was published.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Land Reform

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when the promised review of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 will take place.

Sarah Boyack: Ministers are committed to reviewing the 2003 Land Reform Act during 2007.

Livestock

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28311 by Ross Finnie on 22 September 2006, whether it will publish the legal advice received by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department.

Ross Finnie: Our policy is not to publish the legal advice we receive, this being covered by solicitor-client confidentiality. I am satisfied, however, that last year’s decision to set aside convictions in Scotland under the Cattle Identification Regulations did not undermine decisions taken to penalise farmers who did not meet the conditions of the bovine subsidy schemes. The application of bovine scheme penalties did not rely on domestic legislation; the requirement to apply penalties, and our authority to do so, was laid down in EU legislation.

NHS Hospitals

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28435 by Lewis Macdonald on 2 October 2006, what assurances were received from NHS Lanarkshire about the frequency of the proposed shuttle bus service for patients, relatives and staff between Monklands, Hairmyres and Wishaw General hospitals, following the downgrading of accident and emergency service at Monklands Hospital and what subsidies will be made available to maintain the service should it prove to be commercially unprofitable.

Lewis Macdonald: In announcing my approval of NHS Lanarkshire’s service reconfiguration proposals under A Picture of Health , I placed a number of requirements on the board. These included the development of a shuttle bus service between Monklands, Wishaw and Hairmyres Hospitals which would be in place by the time accident and emergency provision changes at Monklands Hospital. I understand that NHS Lanarkshire is actively participating in the Regional Transport Partnership to consider how wider provision of transport to hospitals and health facilities across Lanarkshire may be improved and the board has confirmed that the frequency of additional services will depend on the improvements made in public transport services. The provision of the shuttle bus service will be a matter for NHS Lanarkshire and its planning partners and I have been clear that usage of the service should be kept under review.

Ports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether regulation of pilotage on the River Forth can be sold or acquired as part of any prospective sale of Forth Ports plc and, if so, what steps the Executive can take in respect of this issue in the event of ownership of the ports by a foreign buyer.

Tavish Scott: Forth Ports plc is the competent harbour authority for the Firth of Forth and is responsible for regulating arrangements for pilotage on the Forth as required by the Pilotage Act 1987. Any potential change of ownership would not affect the designated status of the port and its ability and duty to provide pilotage services.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the prison population is held in private prisons.

Cathy Jamieson: The prisoner population varies over the year but around 9% of the annual population is held within HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Roads

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent progress has been made to secure the funding for the upgrade of the A801 Avon Gorge road.

Tavish Scott: SESTRAN have committed £220,000 over the two financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 for detailed design and land acquisition to be undertaken. In addition, SESTRAN have identified that £9.5 million is required for future years in order to complete the project.

  The Scottish Executive provided grant of £400,000 in September 2005 to Falkirk Council for land acquisition.

UK Climate Change Bill

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29880 by Ms Margaret Curran on 15 November 2006, what analysis it has made of the proposed UK Climate Change Bill; what steps it intends to take to introduce similar provisions in Scotland, and whether it will bring forward a legislative consent motion in respect of the bill.

Ross Finnie: We do not yet know the detailed proposals to be included in the bill and therefore do not know to what extent they will have a bearing on Scotland and in particular its effect on devolved matters. We are working with the UK Government as the detail of the proposed bill develops to consider the extent to which it might provide an appropriate vehicle to deliver measures to tackle climate change extending to Scotland. Where any such measures are proposed which fall within devolved competence a legislative consent motion will be required, however matters are currently at an early stage of development and we do not expect to bring forward a legislative consent motion in respect of the bill before the Scottish elections in May.

Warm Deal

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Clydesdale have benefited from the central heating programme and the Warm Deal.

Des McNulty: Information is not kept in the form requested covering Clydesdale but by postcode area. Since 2001 until December 2006, 2,819 households in the ML postcode area have received central heating and 9,919 homes have benefited from Warm Deal measures.